Confusion rocks Koala robbery trial

The case involving the five persons being tried for purportedly trailing and robbing the marketing clerk of Koala Shopping Centre in Accra suffered a hitch yesterday as the accused persons were not brought to court.

According to the prosecutor, Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka, the investigator had failed to bring the accused persons because he was not aware that the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG) had called off its intended nationwide strike.

This turn of events compelled the trial judge, Aboagye Tanadoh, to wonder if the investigator had no radio or had not been attentive enough in respect of developments pertaining to the strike.

Sitting continues tomorrow.

The prosecution was expected to present a next witness after the complainant and victim of the robbery, Lydia Horsu, had narrated to the court how she was trailed from the Osu branch of Koala to the American Embassy area by two men on motorbike to rob her.

She said her attempt to resist the robbery provoked one of the five accused persons – Stanley Obaliko aka Mohammed Sulemana – who was the pillion rider, to shoot her in the right thigh.

Other accused person in the case are Michael Edoe Ahiataku aka Old Soldier, a private security guard; Gilbert Osabutey aka Obolo, shop supervisor and Frederick Sedro Kwame aka Fred, a private security guard.

Mohammed has been slapped with an additional charge of possessing one automatic MAB foreign pistol No. PA151674189, six live 9mm ammunition and five empty cartridges.

All the accused persons have denied the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery.